Patient programs

Patient programs

Patient ambassador program

Patient ambassadors are current or former patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children or Shriners for Children Medical Center who have been selected and volunteer as champions for the Shriners Hospitals health care system by participating in special activities, events and other opportunities.

Organized through the public relations department, the patient ambassador program is a great way for patients and families to give the gift of their time and talent to the medical center. Patient ambassadors represent Shriners for Children Medical Center in their local communities and at the hospital or medical center in many ways, including photo shoots, video productions and speaking to Shrine temples (chapters). The patient ambassadors attend local Shriners chapter events and local Shriners Hospitals for Children events and fundraisers, and also participate in news stories on television, radio and in newspapers.

In addition to being invited to select events, patient ambassadors reap the benefits of building confidence and character through their participation. Patients and families have formed lifelong friendships in the program and our younger patients flourish by having the opportunity to meet older patients who have “been through it before.”

For more information on how to become a patient ambassador for the Shriners for Children Medical Center, please email Mayra Pereyra, or call 626-389-9585.

Partnerships with local organizations

Shriners for Children Medical Center partners with a number of local organizations that provide activities, camps and other social opportunities for children with disabilities.

The Painted Turtle

The Painted Turtle provides an outreach program at our medical center called The Painted Turtle Outpost, a couple of times a month. The focus is to bring the fun and spirit of their camp program into the medical center playrooms.

The Painted Turtle organization seeks to reach beyond illness, to inspire children with life-threatening diseases to become their greater selves. It is their mission to provide a year-round, life-changing environment for children and their families – one that allows children to participate in an authentic camp experiences by supporting their medical needs and providing their families with care, education and respite.

Portraits of Hope

The Portraits of Hope program is aimed at enriching the lives of children and adults – many whom may be coping with adversity or serious illness – through their participation in creative, educational, high-profile and one-of-a-kind projects.

For children and adults coping with serious health and physical conditions, Portrait of Hope projects serve as creative therapy that let children enjoy and take pride in themselves during the course of their medical care and/or rehabilitative treatments.

In order to facilitate the diverse needs of children with disabilities, Portraits of Hope has developed and incorporated specialized brushes and painting methods in the program, including telescope paint brushes for children in wheelchairs or attached to IVs, shoe brushes (U.S. patent) for children with injured upper limbs or who cannot manipulate a brush with their hands, and flavored mouth brushes for those with limited or no movement in their arms and legs.

Portraits of Hope takes great pride in the fact that every major Portraits of Hope project has served and involved children in hospitals and rehabilitative facilities.

Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation's (AARBF) mission is to enhance the quality of life for burn survivors and promote burn prevention education. The foundation supports the fire service and medical community to prevent burns and strives to address the needs of burn survivors throughout all the stages of recovery. AARBF’s staff and volunteers work closely with the community to host prevention programs, raise funds and provide services to burn survivors. AARBF’s programs include:

Champ Camp

Young Adult Summit

The Getaway

In-facility support and support groups

School Re-entry Program

The Art of Elysium

The Art of Elysium is a foundation dedicated to enriching the lives of artists and children. They believe that there is a powerful and mutual exchange of hope and appreciation that occurs when artists share their time and talent with children facing unique medical conditions.

The Art of Elysium provides a wide range of fine and performing arts workshops and activities designed to:

Help children cope with the difficult emotional challenges of illness and hospitalization